A duo of House Energy & Commerce Committee Republicans announced this week that they plan to take a closer look at the FDA’s life sciences initiatives, suggesting that the agency may need an advisory panel to watch its performance. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) committed to taking a stronger hand in oversight of the FDA, particularly the way the agency handles innovative new products, drugs and biologics, Healthwatch reported.
The Reps. suggested the establishment of an advisory panel, similar to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, to review FDA performance in search of areas of potential improvement. “Although the FDA is under the administrative branch, we are responsible for the product that they produce,” Burgess told reporters. “We darn sure better have the oversight of what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it.” Burgess and Pitts have in the past been active in FDA issues, especially Pitts. In June 2012 Pitts vowed to keep a close eye on the FDA, telling MassDevice.com that he was going to ensure that the FDA delivers on promises made to medical device makers during user fee negotiations.
Following the successful House and Senate passage on the latest iteration of the FDA user fee reauthorization act, which increased the fees that medical device and drug makers pay for product review in exchange for meeting certain performance goals, Pitts isn’t about to let the agency slack.
REFERENCE: March 21, 2013 by Arezu Sarvestani; AdvaMed
In June 2012, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) tells MassDevice.com that the latest iteration of the FDA user fee bill will hold the FDA more accountable and place more focus on keeping jobs and innovation in the U.S.
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) is keeping a close eye on the FDA.